TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIVISION THREE: Late goals keep Westwood's unbeaten run intact

TABLE-TOPPING Westwood News put their seven-match winning run on the line away at an in-form Levi’s side who, prior to an unwanted two week break, were looking in good shape and had started to move up the table after an unbeaten four-match run after they had lost their opening two games.

The rest proved decisive as, holding the leaders 1-1 at the break, they ran out of steam as four late goals helped Westwood to a 7-3 win.

Levi’s were by far the better side in the first half but poor finishing and supurb goalkeeping from Martin Cowdrey meant they they went in at half locked together at one apiece.

Levi’s peppered the Westwood goal and looked certain to open the scoring and only an incredible triple save from Cowdrey kept it goalless.

Cowdrey was eventually beaten by Levi Wood, who scrambled the ball in from close range and shortly after he was saved by the crossbar which kept out Matt Hall’s long-range strike that looked to heading into the top corner.

Westwood, who had been second best for much of the game, fashioned an equaliser on 38 minutes, Steve Bryant scoring to make it 1-0 after a fine build up.

With the first half drawing to a close Westwood lost Dan Thorne through injury and were inches away from stealing the lead, a Ben Cowdrey free kick shaving the post before going out for a goal kick.

Mark Hurkett gave his Westwood side the hair dryer treatment at the break and for a while it seemed to do the trick as goals from Tom Rooney and Josh Maguire put the villager’s 3-1 ahead.

Levi Wood pulled a goal back for Levi’s and when he added a third to complete his hat-trick and draw the teams level it looked as if they were in the ascendancy.

However a quick response from Westwood saw them regain the lead, Tom Rooney scoring his second of the afternoon for 4-3.

As Levi’s started to wilt, Richard Jones scored with 15 minutes remaining to make it 5-3 and, with some breathing space, Westwood pushed on and Jonny Andrews added a sixth.

Troy Hawkes sealed the victory when he was on hand to bag number seven and give his team another three points which leaves them nine points clear of the chasing pack.

Lacock FC 2 Bradford United Reserves 1

BRADFORD United Reserves have had a roller-coaster opening to the campaign.

Three wins and four defeats means they are just below halfway in the standings, but one of those victories came early doors at home to Lacock FC so a trip to Stanley Park, Chippenham for the return clash held no fear.

But it didn’t produce result the visitors were looking for as the hosts avenged their earlier loss with a 2-1 win over their guests who finished the game with 10 men after they had Lance Davis sent off late on.

Adrian Webb gave Lacock a half time lead which was doubled early in the second period when Liam Shipman fired home for 2-0.

Aiden Lane pulled a goal back for Bradford on 60 minutes but any chances they had of getting anything from the game disappeared when they lost Davis to his second red card of the season.

The Fleece FC 5 Trowbridge Rangers 3

AFTER defeats in their previous two games against leaders Westwood News and Lacock FC, second-placed The Fleece were desperate to arrest their loss of form.

The visit of fellow league newcomers Trowbridge Rangers to the Beaches presented them with the ideal opportunity to get their promotion challenge back on track which they did thanks to a 5-3 victory saw them play out much of the game with 10 players after they had keeper Carl Bryant sent off in the first half.

Good work from Sam McWade set up Nick Gleeson who put the Fleece ahead.

Jordan Field equalised for Rangers before Bryant saw red for the Fleece after bringing down a Rangers player and Dan Moore scored from the spot to give the visitors a half time lead.

The 10 men of the Fleece got themselves level, Nick Gleeson scoring from the spot for 2-2.

Tom Downes regained the lead for the Fleece before goals from Charlie Rawlings and James Cameron who headed home number five killed off Rangers.

A second from Field proved to be just another consolation for a Rangers side who played their part in what was a very eventful and entertaining contest.

Trowbridge Town Reserves 2 Bratton Reserves 1

JUST a fortnight after they fought out a 1-1 draw at Leighton Sports Centre, Bratton Reserves and Trowbridge Town Reserves met in the reverse fixture with Woodmarsh hosting what had the makings of another thrilling encounter.

And so it proved as in a repeat of the last meeting of the sides it was a close game which ended with Trowbridge claiming a 2-1 victory.

The opening 10 minutes saw Bratton make the brighter start, and they were unlucky not to go ahead after a goal mouth scramble saw the ball hit Town's crossbar.

Trowbridge then started to play with a bit more determination, winning a succession of corners, with Conor Green eventually forcing home his first competitive goal for the club to give The Bee's the lead.

Despite further chances for both sides, with Natty Mills, Mitchell Spackman and Phil Bicknell all going close for Town, and Town's keeper, Nick Dibden, making two excellent saves, the score remained at 1-0 through to half time.

The second half saw Trowbridge dominant for the first 10 minutes, but it was Bratton who made the most of their chances, getting a deserved equaliser on 59 minutes with Ian Young scoring from close range, and then taking charge of the game with several good moves which saw Trowbridge defenders Adam Potter, Kieran Green, Dan Cockerill and Craig Neate having to work hard to keep the game level.

Slowly Trowbridge started to find their feet, and the introduction of Kieran McCaldon, Kevin Norris and Craig Yelland injected new life into the team.

Despite creating a number of good chances, with Phil Bicknell, Mills, Cockerill and Mitchell Spackman all going close, it seemed that the Bratton keeper Ryan Williams wasn't going to be beaten a second time, until a goalmouth scramble saw Kurt James score on 83 minutes to give Trowbridge the lead again.

As the clock ticked down, Trowbridge has two or three even better chances to tie the game up and make it safe, but again a combination of good goalkeeping from Williams and snatched shots saw James, Spackman and Craig Neate denied as the hosts held out for their 2-1 success.

Polenez Westbury 4 United FC 3

FIERCE rivals Polenez Westbury and United FC locked horns in what was expected to be a red-blooded coming together at Leighton, Westbury.

But both sides behaved themselves and let their football do the talking for them and it was Polenez who came out on top in a seven-goal thriller - their first ever victory over their rivals.

Goals from Sebastian Kosiycki, Mariusz Hoszko and Pizemek Pogpizdski enabled Polenez to open up a 3-1 half time lead, Miciej Niedziela, who lobbed the keeper from a 40 yard free kick, replied for United.

United gave themselves a fighting chance of getting a draw from the game when they got it back to 3-3.

Niedziela reduced the gap to the odd goal and a Fatmir Kurti own goal tied the contest at 3-3.

With five minutes remaining a second from Pogpizdski stole all the points for Polenez as they hung on to claim what was only their third win in 24 league matches.

TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE ROUNDUP, STATS AND PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport and @WTSport

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